Football: Bayern, Villarreal enter group stage
Bayern, making a rare appearance at this stage of the competition, beat FC Zurich 1-0.
PARIS:
Bayern Munich and Villarreal avoided embarrassing exits from the Champions League as they cruised into the group stage draw after winning their respective play-off clashes. Bayern, making a rare appearance at this stage of the competition, beat FC Zurich 1-0 thanks to a Mario Gomez first-half strike to win 3-0 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Villarreal trounced Odense 3-0, to win 3-1 on aggregate. Villarreal’s highly-rated striker Giuseppe Rossi grabbed a double to ensure his team’s place in the group stages for the third time.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2011.
Bayern Munich and Villarreal avoided embarrassing exits from the Champions League as they cruised into the group stage draw after winning their respective play-off clashes. Bayern, making a rare appearance at this stage of the competition, beat FC Zurich 1-0 thanks to a Mario Gomez first-half strike to win 3-0 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Villarreal trounced Odense 3-0, to win 3-1 on aggregate. Villarreal’s highly-rated striker Giuseppe Rossi grabbed a double to ensure his team’s place in the group stages for the third time.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2011.